Chris Carter – Ask The Author

All About Chris: I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.

I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years, during which I interviewed and worked on over one hundred cases involving serial killers, murderers and serious offenders, before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.

A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer

When we first virtually met a year ago, I must confess to not having read any of your books, however now I can confirm to have popped my Chris Carter cherry and read the first four books recently and it is my intention to read the rest over the next few months, so now I can chat to you and actually know what I am talking about (for a change).

To those people out there who haven’t had the “pleasure??” of reading your brilliant (but rather gruesome) series featuring Detective Robert Hunter and his partner Garcia, can you please tell us a little bit about each book and the order to read them in?

The series revolves around an ex-criminal behaviour psychologist turned detective for the LAPD’s Homicide Division – Robert Hunter. He and his partner, Carlos Garcia, make up the Homicide Division’s Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, which is an elite unit created by the LAPD to deal with all homicides where the perpetrator has made a point of utilizing overwhelming sadism and brutality.

Each book deals with a new brutal serial killer who stalks the streets of Los Angeles, with the exception of book six – An Evil Mind. In this book, Hunter, after a request from an old friend, join forces with the FBI’s National Center for The Analysis of Violent Crime to interview a double homicide suspect. An Evil Mind is a much more psychological story than the other books in the series. It’s also the only novel I wrote which is mainly based on true facts.

The book order is:

The Crucifix Killer.

The Executioner.

The Night Stalker.

The Death Sculptor.

One By One.

An Evil Mind.

I Am Death.

The Caller.

The Caller is the 8th book in the series and out in February in the UK, what can you tell me about this book?

The best way to give anyone an idea of the new novel is to give you the book synopsis. So here it is.

After a tough week, Tanya Kaitlin is looking forward to a relaxing night in before her day off, accompanied by nothing more than a nice bottle of wine, but as she steps out of her shower, she hears her cellphone ring. The video call request comes from her best friend, Karen Ward. Tanya takes the call and the nightmare begins.

Karen had been stripped naked, gagged, and bound to a chair in her own living room. Tanya is forced to play a morbid game and watch as her best friend is savagely tortured and murdered right before her eyes. If she disconnects from the call, if she looks away from the camera, she will be next, the deep, raspy, demonic voice at the other end of the line promises her.

Detective Robert Hunter from the LAPD’s Homicide Special Section is called to investigate the bizarre murder. He and his partner, Carlos Garcia, immediately find signs that Karen Ward lived in fear. She was being stalked. But before the investigation is able to progress any further, the killer is back playing his macabre video call game, and whoever answers the call has to play. There’s no way out of it.

Hunter and Garcia are thrown into a rollercoaster of evil, chasing a monster who is much more than what he initially seemed to be. Much more than just a stalker. A predator who scouts the streets and social media networks for victims, taunting them with secret messages and feeding on their fear. A serial murderer who doesn’t distinguish between race, religion, gender, age, or anything else. The only thing that seems to matter is the atrocious video call game he likes to play, and how much he can make his victims suffer.

Be careful before answering your next call. It could be the beginning of your worst nightmare.

How many books do you have planned for Detective Robert Hunter and would you ever consider writing a standalone book, if so, what?

There’s no plan for the number of books in the series. I guess that as long as readers still enjoy reading Hunter stories, I will keep on writing them.

There’s also no plan for me to write a stand alone, but you never know. The idea did enter my head a few times.

Your books are extremely graphic and quite gruesome and I worry about the research you must do when writing these books. First question is do you clear your internet search history as that could be awkward? and second question when you are writing these scenes do you ever gross yourself out?

My Internet browser is set to not retain any history anyway, so I don’t really need to clear it, but the truth is that most of these scenes do not come from research, they come from memory. I used to be a Criminal Behavior Psychologist, and I have attended countless crime scenes in which the aftermath would make anyone sick to their stomach. These images have never left me and I don’t think they ever will.

You have had a varied career to date ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group (photos please??) have you considered opening up a Hamburger restaurant which only has male exotic dancing waiters and chefs… I think it would be great. We could call it “Carter’s Buns” or something, what do you think?

That is an idea. We could sell some very bloody burgers too.

Trust me, you don’t want to see any pictures from that era.

Whoops.. do you mean these photos that I found on the internet…. hee hee hee

You have great hair, how often do you have it cut and what’s the secret behind your silky locks?

Oh, thank you so much. That’s very kind of you to say. Well, believe it or not, the last time I had my hair cut was almost 1.5 years ago. I kid you not. I just take good care of it, I guess. Argan oil does work wonders.

Where do you get the ideas for your serial killers and their stomach-churning crimes? If you don’t mind me saying you are one sick little puppy if that sort of thing goes round your head!

Again, due to my background in Criminal Behavior Psychology, I had to deal with innumerous cases where the perpetrators were very sick puppies. Trust me, reality is much, but much worse than fiction. All I do is refer to some of my memories, add a bit of imagination to it and I have a new serial killer for one of my stories.

Are you single/married/in a relationship/it’s complicated and more importantly are you romantic? If so, what is your idea of romance (please don’t say sewing her nether regions together and shoving a rose in her ass!)

I’m in a relationship and it’s complicated. I have never been married. I don’t believe I’m the romantic type. I’ve been known for doing a few romantic things, but I wouldn’t consider myself a romantic type. (I really do like that idea, though – kinky).

What has been the highlight of your writing career to date and what have you got planned for 2017?

I will have to say that getting a deal was the highlight of my writing career. Before writing The Crucifix Killer, I had never even written a short story in my life. I simply decided to write a book, just like that, out of the blue. I never really expected someone to like what I was writing, never mind an agent and a publishing house. It truly was a huge surprise for me.

I’m already writing book nine, which will be released in hardback in February 2018, so I will spend the year writing, like I usually do. Several music and Fetish festivals coming up as well this year, so there will also be a lot of travelling.

Questions from Superfans on TBC

Karen Vanderputt – Who is your favourite author and what are you reading at the moment?

The truth is I don’t have a favorite author. I also don’t read nearly as much as I should, especially for a person who makes his living writing. My “to-read” shelf is turning into a “to-read” library.
At the moment I am reading a book called “Kill The Father”

Linda Hill – What has been the most challenging part of the transition from musician to writer?

I have to say everything. They are two very different careers. Maybe the top one is that as a musician you usually do your work with others. In my case – a band, but as an author, all my work is done by myself. It’s a very lonely profession and one must be comfortable with that if they intend to go down that road.

Kate Moloney – Do you still enjoy clubbing to relax?

Hell Yeah. I go clubbing practically every weekend all the way until 7 in the morning, and on most weekends I end up in some after party. I work hard during the week, but at the weekends I party.

Cecilly Conlin – Do you have any plans to come to the UK and especially Harrogate for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Festival ever?

I would love to attend the Harrogate Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Festival again. I’ve been there twice already. But to attend the Harrogate festival, an author needs to be invited by the organizing committee. If they invite me again, I will gladly attend. It would be a great pleasure.

Barbara Beswick “Chris, if you had to choose between Italian or French cuisine, which pasta dish would you choose?..”